january 17, 2011 // the rest of the journey

I've been without internet for the past few days, so I haven't had the chance to post. From Salt Lake City, I drove up to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was probably the most frightening drive I've ever taken.. (even more frightening than driving a 34 ft. RV through San Francisco!).. I actually didn't know if I was going to make it to my destination.. seriously. There was crazy ice and snow on the road.. so scary! I was stupid and drove when it was dark out.. not actually getting into Jackson Hole until midnight or so. Despite the drive being terrifying.. something cool did happen. I was on the road alone for most of the drive with a few cars heading the opposite direction every once in a blue moon. There was a part of the drive when my car just didn't want to drive. There was a slight incline in the highway (if you can call what I drove on a highway..) and my little Volvo was struggling. I shifted into low gear and climbed the incline at a veeerrrrryyy... slow pace. I had images in my head of snow patrol finding my car the following morning - stuck in a pile of snow, my nearly frozen self asleep in the back seat shivering.

Here's what I was driving in..

My car is such a trooper.

Fortunately, that didn't happen. I was afraid so I did what I always do when I'm afraid - I prayed. I prayed and prayed and prayed some more. I asked to just get to Jackson Hole safely. Then something happened.. a car drove up behind me. Only one other car had come up behind me on this leg of my journey and they were quick to pass me (probably because I was going about 2 mph!) This car was different - I don't know where it came from.. it was a tiny sedan and it stayed behind me and didn't try to pass me once. I was so grateful to not have to go through the scariest part of my drive alone. Mind you, my palms were sweating and I was still afraid, but I wasn't alone! I knew that if something were to happen, someone else would be there... I was so grateful! I couldn't wait to arrive in Jackson Hole so I could tell the mystery driver how much their being there with me had meant to me. The car followed me for about thirty minutes through the most treacherous part of the drive. Then, as strangely as the car had appeared.. it disappeared. As soon as I rounded the corner into town, the car was gone. I don't know if they lived at one of the houses right before town or if something more supernatural was at work.. but they seemed to vanish into thin air. Just a few minutes later, I arrived safely at my (very nice) Motel 6. Has anyone stayed at a newly remodeled Motel 6 hotel? They are high class! To whoever that driver was - thank you. Your being there with me meant so much!